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Apr 19, 2017 · 19m · top-founders

634: Lice Killing Brush Raises $2.2M Pre-Sale, Retail For $20 Bucks to Kill Lice with No Chemicals with CEO David Tavor

David Tavor · 7m spoken Nathan Latka · 7m spoken Dana Tavor · 7s spoken
0:00 / 0:00

gold bands on the timeline = statements, start to end. Hover to read, click to jump. CC turns on captions

Host Nathan Latka interviews Parasonic CEO David Tavor to discuss how his startup engineered a chemical-free ultrasonic comb that eradicates head lice and secured $2.2 million in capital using an affordable razor-and-blade consumer model.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. Nathan holds 48.4% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Nathan as informed peer 3.6 Guest teaching 2.2 Guest disagreement 0.6 Nathan pushing back 1.2
05100:0010:001:10–4:28 · Nathan as informed peer 4/10 Introducing David Tavor and Parasonic's Ultrasonic Comb Nathan introduces David and questions him on the product mechanics of Parasonic. David explains the biological challenge of lice developing resistance to chemical shampoos and how ultrasonic waves bypass this.4:28–8:06 · Nathan as informed peer 5/10 Parasonic's Founding, Incubator Backing, and Strategic Fundraising Nathan drills into the capitalization table and round breakdown, summarizing the $600k government incubator investment for 23% equity alongside subsequent capital. The tone remains friendly with light banter about future exit valuations.8:06–12:24 · Nathan as informed peer 4/10 Engineering Team, Consumer Pricing Model, and Distribution David details their razor-and-blades pricing strategy involving disposable comb teeth and mentions his concurrent roles scouting for Colgate and chairing other medical startups. Nathan asks about potential intellectual property conflicts.12:25–16:28 · Nathan as informed peer 2/10 Mid-Roll Sponsorship: Free Trial for Klipfolio Dashboards Segment begins with a sponsor read for Klipfolio before shifting to the Famous Five rapid-fire questions, where David gives witty answers regarding software tools and his background as a fighter pilot.16:29–17:14 · Nathan as informed peer 3/10 Parasonic Interview Recap and Farewell to David Tavor Nathan summarizes David's entrepreneurial journey and Parasonic's unit economics before closing the interview warmly.1:10–4:28 · Guest teaching 4/10 Introducing David Tavor and Parasonic's Ultrasonic Comb Nathan introduces David and questions him on the product mechanics of Parasonic. David explains the biological challenge of lice developing resistance to chemical shampoos and how ultrasonic waves bypass this.4:28–8:06 · Guest teaching 2/10 Parasonic's Founding, Incubator Backing, and Strategic Fundraising Nathan drills into the capitalization table and round breakdown, summarizing the $600k government incubator investment for 23% equity alongside subsequent capital. The tone remains friendly with light banter about future exit valuations.8:06–12:24 · Guest teaching 3/10 Engineering Team, Consumer Pricing Model, and Distribution David details their razor-and-blades pricing strategy involving disposable comb teeth and mentions his concurrent roles scouting for Colgate and chairing other medical startups. Nathan asks about potential intellectual property conflicts.12:25–16:28 · Guest teaching 2/10 Mid-Roll Sponsorship: Free Trial for Klipfolio Dashboards Segment begins with a sponsor read for Klipfolio before shifting to the Famous Five rapid-fire questions, where David gives witty answers regarding software tools and his background as a fighter pilot.16:29–17:14 · Guest teaching 0/10 Parasonic Interview Recap and Farewell to David Tavor Nathan summarizes David's entrepreneurial journey and Parasonic's unit economics before closing the interview warmly.1:10–4:28 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Introducing David Tavor and Parasonic's Ultrasonic Comb Nathan introduces David and questions him on the product mechanics of Parasonic. David explains the biological challenge of lice developing resistance to chemical shampoos and how ultrasonic waves bypass this.4:28–8:06 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Parasonic's Founding, Incubator Backing, and Strategic Fundraising Nathan drills into the capitalization table and round breakdown, summarizing the $600k government incubator investment for 23% equity alongside subsequent capital. The tone remains friendly with light banter about future exit valuations.8:06–12:24 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Engineering Team, Consumer Pricing Model, and Distribution David details their razor-and-blades pricing strategy involving disposable comb teeth and mentions his concurrent roles scouting for Colgate and chairing other medical startups. Nathan asks about potential intellectual property conflicts.12:25–16:28 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Mid-Roll Sponsorship: Free Trial for Klipfolio Dashboards Segment begins with a sponsor read for Klipfolio before shifting to the Famous Five rapid-fire questions, where David gives witty answers regarding software tools and his background as a fighter pilot.16:29–17:14 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Parasonic Interview Recap and Farewell to David Tavor Nathan summarizes David's entrepreneurial journey and Parasonic's unit economics before closing the interview warmly.1:10–4:28 · Nathan pushing back 2/10 Introducing David Tavor and Parasonic's Ultrasonic Comb Nathan introduces David and questions him on the product mechanics of Parasonic. David explains the biological challenge of lice developing resistance to chemical shampoos and how ultrasonic waves bypass this.4:28–8:06 · Nathan pushing back 2/10 Parasonic's Founding, Incubator Backing, and Strategic Fundraising Nathan drills into the capitalization table and round breakdown, summarizing the $600k government incubator investment for 23% equity alongside subsequent capital. The tone remains friendly with light banter about future exit valuations.8:06–12:24 · Nathan pushing back 1/10 Engineering Team, Consumer Pricing Model, and Distribution David details their razor-and-blades pricing strategy involving disposable comb teeth and mentions his concurrent roles scouting for Colgate and chairing other medical startups. Nathan asks about potential intellectual property conflicts.12:25–16:28 · Nathan pushing back 1/10 Mid-Roll Sponsorship: Free Trial for Klipfolio Dashboards Segment begins with a sponsor read for Klipfolio before shifting to the Famous Five rapid-fire questions, where David gives witty answers regarding software tools and his background as a fighter pilot.16:29–17:14 · Nathan pushing back 0/10 Parasonic Interview Recap and Farewell to David Tavor Nathan summarizes David's entrepreneurial journey and Parasonic's unit economics before closing the interview warmly.

speaking balance: gold is Nathan, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · Nathan 64.3% · guest 35.7%0:00 · Nathan 64.3% · guest 35.7%3:00 · Nathan 27.8% · guest 72.2%3:00 · Nathan 27.8% · guest 72.2%6:00 · Nathan 44.3% · guest 55.7%6:00 · Nathan 44.3% · guest 55.7%9:00 · Nathan 22.6% · guest 77.4%9:00 · Nathan 22.6% · guest 77.4%12:00 · Nathan 63.3% · guest 36.7%12:00 · Nathan 63.3% · guest 36.7%15:00 · Nathan 59.9% · guest 40.1%15:00 · Nathan 59.9% · guest 40.1%18:00 · Nathan 100% · guest 0%18:00 · Nathan 100% · guest 0%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 6:58 David corrects Nathan's exit expectations

David playfully rejects Nathan's suggestion of selling the company for hundreds of millions, insisting a hundred million is only the starting point.

 Hardest push from Nathan ▶ 3:27 Nathan halts David to clarify business model

Nathan interrupts David's technical explanation to pin down whether Parasonic is licensing its IP or manufacturing a physical OTC comb.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 2:03 David explains chemical resistance in lice treatments

David educates Nathan on why current chemical shampoos fail due to lice evolving resistance, explaining the advantage of ultrasonic eradication.

 Nathan holds their own ▶ 6:05 Nathan consolidates the cap table and round history

Nathan demonstrates financial fluency by immediately synthesizing David's scattered funding numbers into an exact cumulative total and round structure.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicNathan as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementNathan pushing backWhy
Introducing David Tavor and Parasonic's Ultrasonic Comb 4412 Nathan introduces David and questions him on the product mechanics of Parasonic. David explains the biological challenge of lice developing resistance to chemical shampoos and how ultrasonic waves bypass this.
Parasonic's Founding, Incubator Backing, and Strategic Fundraising 5212 Nathan drills into the capitalization table and round breakdown, summarizing the $600k government incubator investment for 23% equity alongside subsequent capital. The tone remains friendly with light banter about future exit valuations.
Engineering Team, Consumer Pricing Model, and Distribution 4301 David details their razor-and-blades pricing strategy involving disposable comb teeth and mentions his concurrent roles scouting for Colgate and chairing other medical startups. Nathan asks about potential intellectual property conflicts.
Mid-Roll Sponsorship: Free Trial for Klipfolio Dashboards 2211 Segment begins with a sponsor read for Klipfolio before shifting to the Famous Five rapid-fire questions, where David gives witty answers regarding software tools and his background as a fighter pilot.
Parasonic Interview Recap and Farewell to David Tavor 3000 Nathan summarizes David's entrepreneurial journey and Parasonic's unit economics before closing the interview warmly.

Statements from this episode (8)

Assertion Open · timeframe Apr 2022
Ultrasonic waves prevent lice from developing resistance
“The lice cannot develop any resistance to such a being. As opposed to all the chemicals that are used today for trying to fight this epidemic.”
David Tavor Apr 19, 2017 ▶ 2:24
Assertion Not publicly verifiable
Parasonic's clinical trial killed lice and eggs in minutes
“We have completed a clinical trial just a few days ago. Very, very successful, and the idea is and the most important thing is that with one treatment of a few minutes, we kill the lice and the eggs.”
David Tavor Apr 19, 2017 ▶ 3:50
Assertion Not publicly verifiable
Parasonic gave up 23% equity for a $600k incubator investment
“600,000 dollars.”
David Tavor Apr 19, 2017 ▶ 5:45
Disclosure
Parasonic has raised $2.2M and is currently seeking $2M
“Yeah, another 1.6 million dollars. And we are in the process of raising another two million dollars.”
David Tavor Apr 19, 2017 ▶ 5:50
Disclosure
Parasonic's razor-and-blades model: cheap device with $1-$5 disposable combs
“It will comprise of three elements. One element will be more expensive around a few tens of dollars. And the rest will be disposable for a few dollars. One, two, up to five dollars the teeth of the comb. Would be disposable, and maybe the gel itself if we are …”
David Tavor Apr 19, 2017 ▶ 9:03
Disclosure
Tavor is also Colgate's innovation scout in Israel
“I am not only the CEO of Parasonic I am also a chairman of other two companies and also the business representative of Colgate in Israel. Scouting for innovations for them”
David Tavor Apr 19, 2017 ▶ 10:16
Assertion Supported
Tavor's other startup built a toothbrush that displays real-time plaque
“One, we developed a toothbrush, that's a clever one, that for the first time in the world you are going to see, actually, the plaque in, on, on, on your smartphone, or projected on your, on, on your mirror in front of you, while you are brushing.”
David Tavor Apr 19, 2017 ▶ 10:38
Assertion Supported
Tavor shot down two MiGs as a pilot in 1973
“Well, I was a young pilot fighting in the Yom Kippur War, 73 war, and shot down two MiG-X-X-X-X-X-X-X.”
David Tavor Apr 19, 2017 ▶ 16:00
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